Cant remember that movie

L

Lt.Col.Vortex

Joined
Jul 22, 2012
Messages
752
Quick thread (I hope). I cant remember an old black and white movie i saw years ago and I'd like your help remembering what it was.
It was about a guy who was sentenced to life in prison (for what I cant remember) and eventually takes up raising birds (canaries I think) as a hobby. He becomes some what of a bird doctor and everyone in the compound gets one. He is eventually released on good behavior after ( I cant remember) years in prison.

Sorry for the lack of details but I saw this like 10 years ago.
 
Ahh, that would be The Bird Man of Alcatraz.
I've actually only watched about 10 mins. of it.
Cheers
 
Allthough the move was based on a real person, it was in fact a work of fiction. I saw an interview with a former Alcatraz guard who actually guarded the guy (the "birdmans" name was Robert Stroud) and he said it was pure Hollywood make-believe.

Even in the days of black and white Hollywood cared more about entertainment value than about historical accuracy.
 
My grandfather was a guard and counselor at McNeil Island Federal Pen in Washington State, and he knew several guards at Alcatraz, who knew Stroud pretty well. Stroud was one of those people that you never, EVER turned your back on. Most of the guys in Alcatraz were pretty dangerous, but Stroud put even the toughest guards on edge, according to one guard my granddad knew. (He'd killed a guard at another prison, so that's probably why.)

Stroud didn't have birds at Alcatraz, only at Leavenworth, where he was held previously. That's Hollywood for you. The Birdman of Alcatraz sounds more dramatic than The Birdman of Leavenworth, I guess.

~Chris
 
Sounds insightful and I may actually read the book. But for the past week I've had a scene in my head and I couldn't remember where it came from.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top